TISSUE-CULTURE, ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC AND ENZYME HISTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF EXTRA-ADRENAL PARAGANGLIOMAS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 11  (4) , 257-264
Abstract
Light microscopic, EM and histochemical investigations were performed in 3 cases of extraadrenal paragangliomas. They were localized in the carotid body, tympanicum and cauda equina region. Tissue of 2 cases was cultivated in vitro in nutrient medium TCM 199. The tumors were classified as paragangliomas of the paraganglionic type with typical cell clusters, of the adenomatous and angiomatous type. Enzyme histochemistry showed high dehydrogenase activity. Ultrastructurally numerous typical osmiophilic granules could be observed in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. In tissue culture only minimal cellular proliferative activity could be detected. The few proliferating cell colonies showed characteristics of epithelial tissue and sometimes a similar behavior to cells of a ganglioneuroblastoma. The minimal proliferative activity in vitro is in good agreement with the proliferative behavior of extraadrenal paragangliomas in vivo.

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